SUBHADRA Yojana: Politics heats up in Odisha after SOP announcement

A day after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government led by Chief Minister Mohan Majhi announced the implementation of the Subhadra scheme under which Rs 50,000 assistance will be provided to women, politics is now active with Opposition expressing its discontent.

SUBHADRA Yojana SOP

Women between 21 and 60 years will be eligible for SUBHADRA assistance. An assistance of Rs 10,000 per year will be provided for five years.

Every year, the amount will be transferred to their accounts through DBT in two phases.

The first instalment of Rs 5,000 will be credited to their accounts on Rakhi Purnima, and the second instalment of Rs 5,000 will be credited on International Women’s Day (March 8).

Also Read: SUBHADRA Yojana SOP announced by Odisha govt; know details on instalments, application process 

Opposition Reaction

Soon after the Odisha government announced the SOP for the rollout of the SUBHADRA yojana, leader of Opposition (LoP) Naveen Patnaik took to his official X handle and criticised the government. Patnaik wrote, “The BJP had given a ‘guarantee’ to give Rs 50,000 to each woman during the election. But now they are giving only Rs 5,000. They (BJP) said all women would get benefits and now only one in three women will get the benefits. Is this BJP’s guarantee to mothers?"

Patnaik further wrote, “It was expected that 2.25 crore women out of the 4.5 crore population would be covered under the scheme. However, as per the government, only 70 lakh women would benefit from it.”

Opposition Chief Whip Pramila Mallik said, “ The Odisha government has fixed lot of criteria for which a lot of women will be deprived. Where is the budget for extending benefits to 1 crore beneficiaries? What business can a woman set up in a paltry amount of Rs 5,000?”

Congress MLA Sofia Firdous said, “They again did the same vote bank politics. They haven’t mentioned who will be eligible. Many like those who are getting Rs 1,500 or more from various government yojanas monthly have been excluded.”  

Responding to the statements of the BJD and Congress leaders, BJP MLA Santosh Khatua said, “It was mentioned in our manifesto that a woman will get Rs 50,000 under the SUBHADRA Yojana. There was no mention of age. They are only looking for something to oppose.  One crore means, all eligible beneficiaries would be covered. They should cross the bridge when it comes. After the distribution of assistance money, it is to be seen if any section is left out.”